Mazda Protege (2003 year). Manual — part 12

7-6

In Case of an Emergency

Flat Tire

To remove the spare tire

Turn the tire hold-down bolt
counterclockwise with the lug wrench.

Driving with a Temporary Spare Tire
on Ice or Snow:
Driving with a spare tire on the front
(driving) wheels on ice or snow is
dangerous. Handling will be affected.
You could lose control of the vehicle
and have an accident. Put the spare
tire on the rear axle and move a
regular tire to the front.

To avoid damage to the temporary
spare or to the vehicle, observe the
following precautions:
• Don’t exceed 80 km/h (50 mph).
• Avoid driving over obstacles.

Also, don’t drive through an
automatic car wash. This tire’s
diameter is smaller than a
conventional tire’s, so the ground
clearance is reduced about 25 mm
(1 in).

• Don’t use a tire chain on this tire

because it won’t fit properly.

• Don’t use your temporary spare on

any other vehicle; it has been
designed only for your Mazda.

• Use only one temporary spare tire

on your vehicle at the same time.

WARNING

CAUTION

Lug wrench

Bolt

Tire clamp

Except MAZDASPEED Protege

Bolt

Tire clamp

MAZDASPEED Protege

7-7

In Case of an Emergency

Flat Tire

If you have a flat tire, drive slowly to a
level spot that is well off the road and out
of the way of traffic to change the tire.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder of a
busy road is dangerous.

1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-

way and firmly set the parking brake.

2. Put a vehicle with an automatic

transaxle in Park (P), a manual
transaxle in Reverse (R) or 1, and turn
off the engine.

3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.

4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle

and away from the vehicle and traffic.

5. Remove the jack, tool, and spare tire

(page 7-3).

6. Block the wheel diagonally opposite

the flat tire. When blocking a front
wheel, place the block both in front and
behind the tire. When blocking a rear
wheel, place the block both in front and
behind the tire.

Changing a Flat Tire

NOTE

If the following occurs while driving, it
could indicate a flat tire.

• Steering becomes difficult.
• The vehicle begins to vibrate

excessively.

• The vehicle pulls in one direction.

Jacking a Vehicle:
Changing a tire is dangerous if not
done properly. The vehicle can slip off
the jack and seriously injure
someone.
Be sure to follow the directions for
changing a tire, and never get under a
vehicle that is supported only by a
jack.

Passenger in Vehicle Supported by a
Jack:
Allowing someone to remain in a
vehicle supported by a jack is
dangerous. The occupant could cause
the vehicle to fall resulting in serious
injury. Never allow anyone inside a
vehicle supported by a jack.

WARNING

NOTE

Make sure the jack is well lubricated
before using it.

7-8

In Case of an Emergency

Flat Tire

▼ Removing a Flat Tire

1. Pry off the wheel cover with the

beveled end of the lug wrench.

2. Loosen the lug nuts by turning them

counterclockwise one turn each, but
don’t remove any until the tire has been
raised off the ground.

3. Place the jack under the jacking

position closest to the tire being
changed.

NOTE

Force the end of the wrench firmly
between wheel and cover, or removal
will be difficult.

Align the notch on the wheel cover
with the valve stem when installing it.

Damage could occur during
installation if the wheel cover is not
properly aligned.

Wheel cover

Lug wrench

CAUTION

Tire valve

Notch

Jacking position

7-9

In Case of an Emergency

Flat Tire

4. Insert the jack handle into the jack.

5. Turn the jack handle clockwise and

raise the vehicle high enough so that
the spare tire can be installed. Before
removing the lug nuts, make sure your
Mazda is firmly in position and that it
cannot slip or move.

6. Remove the lug nuts by turning them

counterclockwise; then remove the
wheel.

Incorrect Jacking Position:
Attempting to jack the vehicle in
positions other than those
recommended in this manual is
dangerous. The vehicle could slip off
the jack and seriously injure or even
kill someone. Use only the front and
rear jacking positions recommended
in this manual.

Improper Jack:
Using a jack that isn’t designed for
your Mazda is dangerous. The vehicle
could slip off the jack and seriously
injure someone. Use only the jack
provided with your Mazda.

Placing Objects Under the Jack:
Jacking the vehicle with an object
under the jack is dangerous. The jack
could slip and someone could be
seriously injured by the jack or the
falling vehicle. Never place objects
under the jack.

WARNING

Jack handle

7-10

In Case of an Emergency

Flat Tire

▼ Locking Lug Nuts

If your vehicle has optional antitheft
wheel lug nuts, one on each wheel will
lock the tires and you must use a special
key to unlock them. This key is attached
to the lug wrench and is stored with the
spare tire. Register them with the lock
manufacturer by filling out the card
provided in the glove box and mailing it in
the accompanying envelope. If you lose
your key, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer or use the lock manufacturer’s
order form, which is with the registration
card.

To remove an antitheft lug nut

1. Get the key for the locking lug nut.

2. Place it on top of the nut, and be sure to

hold the key square to it. If you hold
the key at an angle, you may damage
both key and nut. Don’t use a power
impact wrench.

3. Place the lug wrench on top of the key

and apply pressure. Turn the wrench
counterclockwise.

To replace the nut

1. Place the key on top of the nut.

2. Place the lug wrench on top of the key,

apply pressure, and turn it clockwise.

▼ Mounting the Spare Tire

1. Remove dirt and grime from the

mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub, including the hub bolts, with a
cloth.

2. Mount the spare tire.

Antitheft lug nut

Special key

Removing Dirt and Grime from
Wheels, Hubs and Hub Bolts:
When changing or replacing a tire,
not removing dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel, hub
and hub bolts is dangerous. The lug
nuts could loosen while driving and
cause the tire to come off, resulting in
an accident. Make sure the mounting
surfaces of the wheel, hub and lug
nuts are clean before changing or
replacing tires.

WARNING

7-11

In Case of an Emergency

Flat Tire

3. Install the lug nuts with the beveled

edge inward; tighten them by hand.

4. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise

and lower the vehicle. Use the lug
wrench to tighten the nuts in the order
shown.

If you’re unsure of how tight the nuts
should be, have them inspected at a
service station.

Nut tightening torque:

Applying Oil and Grease to Lug Nuts,
Bolts:
Applying oil or grease to lug nuts and
bolts is dangerous. The lug nuts could
loosen while driving and cause the
tire to come off, resulting in an
accident. In addition, lug nuts and
bolts could be damaged if tightened
more than necessary. Do not apply oil
or grease to lug nuts and bolts and do
not tighten the lug nuts beyond the
recommended tightening torque.

WARNING

N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf) 90—120 (9—12, 65—87)

4-nut models

5-nut models

7-12

In Case of an Emergency

Flat Tire

5. Store the damaged tire, using the

conventional tire hold-down bolt
supplied in the tool bag to hold it in
place. Have the damaged tire repaired
as soon as possible.

Loose Lug Nuts:
Improperly or loosely tightened lug
nuts are dangerous. The wheel could
wobble or come off. This could result
in loss of vehicle control and cause a
serious accident. Always securely and
correctly tighten the lug nuts.

Metric Studs and Lug Nuts:
Because the wheel studs and lug nuts
on your Mazda have metric threads,
using a non-metric nut is dangerous.
On a metric stud, it would not secure
the wheel and would damage the stud,
which could cause the wheel to slip
off and cause an accident. Be sure to
reinstall the same nuts you removed
or replace them with metric nuts of
the same configuration.

Incorrect Tire Air Pressure:
Driving on tires with incorrect air
pressure is dangerous. Tires with
incorrect pressure could affect
handling and result in an accident.
Don’t drive with any tires that have
incorrect air pressure. When you
check the regular tires’ air pressure,
check the spare tire, too.

WARNING

NOTE

To prevent the jack and tool from
rattling, store them properly.

Tire clamp

Conventional tire
hold-down bolt

7-13

In Case of an Emergency

Overheating

If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating, the vehicle loses power, or
you hear a loud knocking or pinging
noise, the engine is probably too hot.

If this happens:

1. Drive safely to the side of the road and

park off the right-of-way.

2. Put a vehicle with an automatic

transaxle in park (P), a manual
transaxle in neutral.
Apply the parking brake.

3. Turn off the air conditioner.

4. Check whether coolant or steam is

escaping from under the hood or from
the engine compartment.

If steam is coming from the engine
compartment:
Don’t go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine. Then turn the ignition
switch to the ON position without
starting the engine.
The radiator cooling fans will start to
cool the engine.

If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine until
it cools. If this doesn’t lower the
temperature, stop the engine and let it
cool.

5. Check the coolant level.

If it’s low, look for leaks in the radiator
hoses and connections, heater hoses
and connections, radiator, and water
pump.
If you find a leak or other damage, or if
coolant is still leaking, stop the engine
and call an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

If you find no problems, the engine is
cool, and no leaks are obvious, carefully
add coolant as required (page 8-12).

Overheating

Steam from Overheated Engine:
Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you. Open the hood
ONLY after steam is no longer
escaping from the engine.

WARNING

Cooling system cap

Engine coolant
reservoir

7-14

In Case of an Emergency

Overheating

Cooling System Caps:
When the engine and radiator are
hot, scalding coolant and steam may
shoot out under pressure and cause
serious injury. Don’t remove either
cooling system cap when the engine
and radiator are hot.

If the engine continues to overheat or
frequently overheats, have the cooling
system inspected. The engine could be
seriously damaged unless repairs are
made.

WARNING

CAUTION

7-15

In Case of an Emergency

Emergency Starting

If the engine fails to start, it may be
flooded (excessive fuel in the engine).

Follow this procedure:

1. Depress the accelerator all the way and

hold it there.

2. Turn the ignition switch to the START

position and hold it there—for up to 10
seconds. If the engine starts, release the
key and accelerator immediately
because the engine will suddenly rev
up.

3. If the engine fails to start, crank it

without using the accelerator—for up
to 10 seconds.

Jump-starting is dangerous if done
incorrectly. So follow the procedure
carefully. If you feel unsure about jump-
starting, we strongly recommend that you
have a competent service technician do
the work.

Starting a Flooded Engine

Jump-Starting

Battery-Related Explosion:
Flames and sparks near open battery
cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas,
produced during normal battery
operation, could ignite and cause the
battery to explode. An exploding
battery can cause serious burns and
injuries. Keep all flames, including
cigarettes, and sparks away from
open battery cells.

Low Fluid Level or Frozen Battery:
Jump-starting a frozen battery or one
with a low fluid level is dangerous. It
may rupture or explode, causing
serious injury.
Don’t jump-start a frozen battery or
one with a low fluid level.

Use only a 12 V booster system. You
can damage a 12 V starter, ignition
system, and other electrical parts
beyond repair with a 24 V power
supply (two 12 V batteries in series or
a 24 V motor generator set).

WARNING

CAUTION

7-16

In Case of an Emergency

Emergency Starting

1. Make sure the booster battery is 12 V

and that its negative terminal is
grounded.

2. If the booster battery is in another

vehicle, don’t allow the vehicles to
touch. Turn off the engine of the
vehicle with the booster battery and all
unnecessary electrical loads in both
vehicles.

3. Connect the jumper cables in the exact

sequence as in the illustration.

• Connect one end of a cable to the

positive terminal on the discharged
battery (1).

• Attach the other end to the positive

terminal on the booster battery (2).

• Connect one end of the other cable

to the negative terminal of the
booster battery (3).

• Connect the other end to a solid,

stationary, exposed metallic point
(for example, the engine hanger)
away from the discharged battery
(4).

4. Start the engine of the booster vehicle

and run it a few minutes. Then start the
engine of the other vehicle.

5. When finished, carefully disconnect

the cables in the reverse order
described in Step 3.

Booster battery

Discharged
battery

Jumper
cables

Connect cables in
numerical order and
disconnect in reverse order.

Connecting to Negative Terminal:
Connecting the end of the second
cable to the negative ( ) terminal of
the discharged battery is dangerous.
A spark could cause the gas around
the battery to explode and injure
someone. Connect the cable to a point
away from the battery.

Connecting Jumper Cable to a
Moving Part:
Connecting a jumper cable near or to
a moving parts (cooling fans, belts) is
dangerous. The cable could get
caught when the engine starts and
cause serious injury. Never connect a
jumper cable to or near any part that
moves.

WARNING

7-17

In Case of an Emergency

Emergency Starting

You can’t start a vehicle with an automatic
transaxle by pushing it.

Push-Starting

Towing a Vehicle to Start It:
Towing a vehicle to start it is
dangerous. The vehicle being towed
could surge forward when its engine
starts, causing the two vehicles to
collide. The occupants could be
injured. Never tow a vehicle to start it.

You shouldn’t push-start a vehicle that
has a manual transaxle. It can damage
the emission control system.

WARNING

CAUTION

7-18

In Case of an Emergency

Emergency Towing

We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.

Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.

A towed vehicle usually should have its
front wheels off the ground. If excessive
damage or other conditions prevent this,
use wheel dollies.

When towing with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake.

Towing Description

Wheel dollies

Don’t tow the vehicle pointed
backward with driving wheels on the
ground. This may cause internal
damage to the transaxle.

Don’t tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.

CAUTION

CAUTION

7-19

In Case of an Emergency

Emergency Towing

▼ Towing Hook-Rear

▼ Tiedown Hooks-Front

Towing/Tiedown Hooks

• The towing hook should be used

only in an emergency (to get the
vehicle out of a ditch or a snow
bank, for example).

• When using the towing hook,

always pull the cable or chain in a
straight direction with respect to the
hook. Apply no sideways force.

• Don’t use the tiedown hooks under

the front and rear for towing.
They are designed ONLY for tying
down the vehicle when it’s being
transported. Using them for towing
will damage the bumper.

CAUTION

Sedan

Hatchback

7-20

In Case of an Emergency

Emergency Towing

▼ Tiedown Hooks-Rear

An example of “ recreational towing ” is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing
this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“ Towing Description ” (page 7-18) and
“ Towing/Tiedown Hooks ” (page 7-19)
and carefully follow the instructions.

Sedan

Hatchback

Recreational Towing

8-1

8

Maintenance and Care

How to keep your Mazda in top condition.

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-2

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-2

Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

Owner Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-6

Owner Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-6
Owner Maintenance Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-7
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-9
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Brake/Clutch Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-14
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-16
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (ATF) . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-16
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18
Body Lubrication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-19
Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-19
Wiper Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-20
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-23
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-24
Light Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-29
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-38

Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-42

How to Minimize Environmental Paint Damage . . . . . . 8-42
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-44
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-47